Hunterdon County at 6 p.m. Sunday opened a regional shelter for refugees from Hurricane Sandy. It’s in Building #1 of the county’s Route 12 complex in Raritan Township, the property that houses the main branch of the county library.

The American Red Cross is working with the county at the shelter, which is for residents from all over Hunterdon, and their pets.

However, officials are still recommending that people ”shelter in place” at their homes if possible, said Emergency Management Coordinator Brayden Fahey.
“If you must leave your home, you should be attempting to stay with family or friends to start with. If that is not an option, for your comfort, consider a hotel. If all of these ideas are not an option for you, then make use of the shelter,” he said.
“If you report to the shelter, bring items you need for comfort and necessity.

Be sure to have enough medication with you for 72 to 96 hours. At the Route 12 facility “we have made provisions to shelter pets,” he said.” If your pet is on a specific diet, be sure to bring the appropriate food” and other items.

For more information, contact your municipal emergency management agency, Fahey said. Information on reaching them is available here.

According to Fahey, severe, damaging winds and heavy, flooding rain are forecast.

“Widespread power outages are anticipated, comparable to, if not worse than Tropical Storm Irene and the pre- Halloween storm of 2011.”

“In the event power is out for an extended period of time, we will provide information to municipal buildings and government buildings for posting.” People can also call the Emergency Management public information line at 908-806-5851. Or go to this website for more from the county.

At the height of the storm – predicted to be Monday night in the Hunterdon area — there may be an interruption in critical services, including police, fire and emergency medical services response.

“This is necessary for the safety of our first responders,” Fahey said. “No one, including them, should be outdoors during periods of sustained tropical storm or hurricane force winds.

“If you live in an area prone to flooding, you should evacuate before the storm or be prepared to stay where you are until conditions improve. Do not use the 9-1-1 system for anything but true emergencies. We reiterate that there is an increasing chance that your power will be out and possibly for a long time, comparable to Irene or the Halloween storm of 2011.

"Have a cellular charger for your vehicle so you can still charge phones and other portable devices even if the power in your home goes out. If you are going to use a generator, it must be outside. There are specific dangers, including carbon monoxide poisoning, if a generator is used incorrectly. Refer to this website or the user guide you received with the generator for recommended safety tips.